Sorting device



J. N. RUSSELL SORTING DEVICE June 24 1924.

Filed April 16. 1921 IN VEN TOR.

v A TTORNE Y.

Patented June 24, 1924.

JOSEPH N. RUSSELL,

GERTRUDE MAY RUSSELL HOUSE, OF SAGINAW,

OF BRIDGEPORT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB OE ONE-HALF T 0 MICHIGAN.

SOB/TING DEVICE.

Application filed April 16, 1921. Serial No. 461,777.

T 0 all 10 ho-m it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH N. RUssnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sorting Devices, of which the following is a. specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to sorting devices and more particularly to a sorting device for beans, peas and like vegetables.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which permits sorting of beans or peas without waste, and without interfering with the passage of the sorted beans into the desired receptacle.

Another object is to rovide a device of this character wherein t e bean or pea not desired may be discharged from the sorter without picking the same therefrom, or removing it to any special point on the sorting device.

A still further object is to. provide a device of this character including a plurality of bars each bar having a plurality of re silient fingers, the ends of said fingers being disposed adjacent one of thebars whereby the fingers may be separated to permit the assage of a bean or pea therethrough.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sorting device of this character wherein the resilient fingers are secured to the bars without the use of rivets, or separate fastening means.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more particularly described, fully claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sorting device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and showing the same in a position for use on a support,

Figure 2 isa top plan view,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of one of the bars and the fingers thereof,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention, and

Figure 5 is an end elevation and sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, 4 designates a' d gers of each bar are adapted to engage the frame including end members 5 and 6 an side members 7 and 8, the side members helng disposed in spaced parallel relation to each other. One end of the frame is pro vided with legs 9 which serve to hold the frame in an inclined position. A partition 10 is disposed transversely of the frame adjacent the ends 6, abottom 11 being disposed between the end 6 and the partition to form a receptacle. Disposed within the frame and supported by the side members 7 and 8 are plates 12 and 13, said plates being maintained in inclined positions, the inclination of said plates extending toward each other. The lower ends of the plates are disposed in spaced relation so as to provide an opening 14 through which the discarded beans or peas may pass. I

Carried by the frame adjacent the end 5 is a hopper 15, one side of the hopper being provided with an opening 16 which is closed by a valve 17, guides 18 being provided inwardly of the hopper for the reception of the ends of the valve. A slot 19 is formed in said side of the hopper and is adapted to receive a knob 20 which is connected to the valve and by means of which the valve may be raised or lowered to control the discharge of be ns or peas from the hopper.

In order to properly sort the vegetables discharged by the hopper, there is provided a plurality of bars 21 constructed. prefer ably of metal, each bar having one longitudinal edge thereof extended back upon the bar to form a channel 22. A plurality of resilient fingers 23 are supported by the bars 21, each pair of fingers being-formed from a single length of resilient material which is bent upon itself at its intermediate portion. The bight portion of each of the lengths is disposed within the channel 22 in spaced relation to each other. 9' tion of the extended marginal edge of the bar 21 extending between the fingers is disposed so as to crimp the marginal edge substantially over the fingers. In this way, the fingers are positioned within the channel and on the bar without the use of rivets, screws or like separate fastening means. In addition to this the fingers are firmly braced by extending entirely across the bar. Each of the bars 21 are disposed upon the frame a, one end of each bar being secured to one of the side members 7 and 8 and so positioned that the free ends of the fin- The por- 7 that after the bar 21 is secured to the frame the free ends of the fingers are slightly under tension in view of the contact of said ends with the adjacent bar. It will also be noted that the portion of the bar forming the channel 22 is disposed downwardly so that no obstruction is formedto beans or peas passing over the bars.

In .use, the frame 4 is adaptedito be positioned upon a support A in such a manner. that the opening 14 formed by the plates 12-and 13 will be positioned beyond the edge of the table and over a suitable receptacle. The valve of the hopper may then be operated to cause a discharge of peas or beans onto the sorter formed through the cooperation of the spaced bars 21. The beans or peas discharged upon the sorter in view of the inclination of the frame will pass over the sorter toward the receptacle formed within the frame adjacent the end 6. The

' operator then removes the beans or peas not desired by pressing the pea bean so as to cause the fingers 23 to spread and per pea to pass through and mit the bean or roll down the adjacent plate, through the opening 14. The good beans or peas may pass. over the sorter into the receptacle, as

the fingers will not separate unless pressure is applied by the operator. To render the bars 21 more secure and eliminate lateral movement thereof, a bar 25 is disposed over the ends of the bars engaged with the side 7, and secured to the edge of said side.

In Figure 4 another form of the invention is shown this form consists of a pair of endless strips or belts 26 adapted to engage rollers 27. The belts are connected by a plurality of the bars 21 which are provided with resilient fingers 23 similar to the resilient fingers above described. The bars are also positioned with the ends of the fingers thereof in engagement with the adjacent bar. I n this way the belts may be operated so as to cause movementof the beans or peas toward the end of the separator and at the same time permit the operator to discard the beans or peas not desired.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that this invention provides a novel sorting device which is compact in form, may be readily positioned on any support and wherein the sorting of the beans or peas does not depend on any mechanical means so that there is no danger of beans or peas not desired being discharged into the receptacle at the end of the frame With the good beans or peas. In addition to this the sorting operation may be accomplished with rapidity as the undesired bean or pea may bequickly passed through the sorter at any point, the resiliency of the fingers permitting the same to return to their normal position after the bean or pea has been discarded.

hat is claimed is:

In a sorting device including an inclined support and a feed hopper at the highest end thereof having an outlet opening, a plurality of screen members carried by the support and each including a bar extend ing transversely of the support and carrying a plurality of resilient fingers projecting therefrom, said fingers being normally curved and the free ends of each set engaging beneath the preceding bar and held thereby in flexed position so as to be substantially straight. p

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. I

JOSEPH N. RUSSELL. 

